Automatic programming method
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an automatic programming method and, more particularly, to a method of automatically originating NC program data for wire-cut electric discharge machining. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART 
     In the origination of NC data for wire-cut electric discharge machining, automatic programming is performed in accordance with a procedure of the kind shown in FIG. 4 according to the prior art. Specifically, a machining profile is defined (step 1), followed by entry of data specifying an approach path for moving a wire electrode to a machining starting point on the machining profile (step 2). Next, the machining conditions necessary for wire-cut electric discharge machining, such as machining speed and wire offset diameter, are entered (step 3), as well as data specifying a departure path along which the wire electrode is retracted away from a machining end point on the machining profile (step 4). When entry of the data necessary for wire-cut electric discharge machining in accordance with the predetermined machining profile ends, a check is performed to determine whether to subject the workpiece to another machining operation (step 5). When machining is required, the processing from step 1 onward is repeated to again enter data specifying the machining profile, approach path, machining conditions and departure path. If it is not required to subject the workpiece to other machining, then the abovementioned entered data is used to successively originate NC program data for each and every machining profile (step 6). 
     FIG. 5 shows views for describing the data which specifies the approach path, in which FIG. 5(a) is for a case in which a machining starting hole P a  is decided at a position of distance l 1  on an extension ES of a first machining pass P F , a wire electrode 11 is fed at a cutting velocity F 1  along the extension ES from the machining starting hole P a  to a starting point (machining starting point) P s  of the first pass, after which the wire electrode is moved along the first pass PF (extension approach pattern). FIG. 5(b) is for a case in which the machining starting hole P a  is decided at a position of distance l 1  on a tangent line TS to the first machining pass PF at the starting point (machining starting point) P s  thereof, the wire electrode 11 is fed at the cutting velocity F 1  along the tangent line TS from the machining starting hole P a  to the machining starting point P s , after which the wire electrode 11 is moved along the first pass PF (tangent line approach pattern). FIG. 5(c) is for a case in which the machining starting hole P a  is decided at a position of distance l 1  on a tangent circle TC to the first machining pass PF at the starting point (machining starting point) P s  thereof, the wire electrode 11 is fed at the cutting velocity F 1  along the tangent circle TC from the machining starting hole P a  to the machining starting point P s , after which the wire electrode is moved along the first pass PF (tangent circle approach pattern). FIG. 5(d) is for a case in which the machining starting hole P a  is decided at a position of distance l 1  on a normal line NS to the first machining pass PF at the starting point (machining starting point) P s  thereof, the wire electrode 11 is fed at the cutting velocity F 1  along the normal line NS from the machining starting hole P a  to the machining starting point P s , after which the wire electrode 11 is moved along the first pass PF (normal line approach pattern). 
     FIG. 6 shows views for describing the data which specifies the departure path, in which FIG. 6(a) is for a case in which a wire departure point P a  is decided at a position of distance l 1  on an extension ES of a last machining pass PL, the wire electrode 11 is retracted at the cutting velocity F 1  along the extension ES from the machining end point P e  to the wire departure point P a  (extension departure pattern). FIG. 6(b) is for a case in which the wire departure point P a  is decided at a position of distance l 1  on a tangent line TS to the last machining pass PL at the end point (machining end point) P e  thereof, and the wire electrode 11 is retracted at the cutting velocity F 1  along the tangent line TS from the machining end point P e  to the wire point P a  (tangent line departure pattern). FIG. 6(c) is for a case in which the wire departure point P a  is decided at a position of distance l 1  on a tangent circle TC to the last machining pass PL at the end point (machining end point) P e  thereof, and the wire electrode 11 is retracted at the cutting velocity F 1  along the tangent circle TC from the machining end point P e  to the wire departure point P a  (tangent circle departure pattern). FIG. 6(d) is for a case in which the wire departure point P a  is decided at a position of distance l 1  on a normal line NS to the last machining pass PL at the end point (machining end point) P e  thereof, the wire electrode 11 is retracted at the cutting velocity F 1  along the normal line NS from the machining end point P e  to the wire departure point P a  (normal line departure pattern). 
     In this conventional automatic programming method involving NC data for wire-cut electric discharge machining, (i) the data for specifying the approach path, (ii) the machining condition data and (iii) the data for specifying the departure path are entered separately each time a machining profile is entered. Consequently, data entry requires time; the greater the number of machining profiles, the longer the time needed. Also, the NC data automatic programming operation is a complicated one and operation errors occur. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic programming method involving NC program data for wire-cut electric discharge machining in which it is unnecessary to enter data for specifying approach paths, departure paths and other machining conditions. 
     Data specifying an approach path and a departure path, as well as wire-cut machining conditions, are registered in advance. In automatic programming, rather than entering an approach path, departure path and machining conditions separately, only machining profiles (51, 52, . . . ,) (see FIG. 3) are successively defined, after which the machining profile data and the registered approach path data, departure path data and machining condition data are used to originate NC program data for wire-cut electric discharge machining for each and every profile (51, 52). 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic programming system to which the present invention can be applied; 
     FIG. 2 is a flowchart of processing according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a view for describing the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a flowchart of automatic programming processing according to the prior art; and 
     FIGS. 5(a-d) and 6(a-d) are views for describing an approach path, and departure path, respectively. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic programming system to which the present invention can be applied. Numeral 101 denotes a ROM in which a loading program is stored, 102 a processor, and 103 a RAM for storing (i) a system program for automatic programming, (ii) data for designating an approach path, machining conditions and a departure path in actual wire-cut electric discharge machining, and (iii) the results of processing. Numeral 104 denotes an NC data memory for storing originated NC program data, 105 a keyboard, 106 a graphic display unit (CRT), 107 a disk controller, and FL a floppy disk. Registered on the floppy disk FL in advance are (i) a system program SPR for originating NC program data for wire-cut electric discharge machining, and (ii) approach path data D AP , departure path data D ES  and various data for specifying machining conditions D MC . 
     The data for specifying approach path are (i) data indicating the pattern from among those of FIGS. 5(a) through (d) in accordance with which an approach is to be made, (ii) the distance l 1  and (iii) the approach velocity F 1 . The data for specifying the departure path are (i) data indicating the pattern from among those of FIGS. 6(a) through (d) in accordance with which a departure is to be made, (ii) the distance l 1  and (iii) the departure velocity F 1 . 
     FIG. 2 is a flowchart of processing according to the invention, and FIG. 3 is a view for describing the invention. The method of the invention will now be described in accordance with FIGS. 1 through 3. It is assumed that the system program SPR for automatic programming and the various data D AP , D ES , D MC  stored on the floppy disk FL have already been loaded in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 103 by the loading program. Also, it is assumed that the extension approach pattern shown in FIG. 5(a) has been designated by the approach path data D AP , and that the tangent line departure pattern shown in FIG. 6(b) has been designated by the departure path data D ES . 
     In originating NC data for wire-cut electric discharge machining, first machining profiles 51, 52, . . . , (see FIG. 3) that are mutually discontinuous are successively defined and entered (steps 201, 202) (see FIG. 2). 
     When definition and entry of all machining profiles ends, the processor 102 performs the operation 1→i (step 203) and computes the coordinates of an approach starting point (machining starting hole) P ai  (see FIG. 3) of an i-th machining profile using the approach path data D AP  and the path data of the first block of the i-th machining profile stored in the RAM 103 (step 204). 
     Thereafter, NC data for the approach from the machining starting hole P ai  to a machining starting point P si  of the i-th machining profile are originated (step 205), then the machining conditions and i-th machining profile data stored in the RAM 103 are used to originate path NC data for moving the wire electrode along the i-th machining profile (step 206). 
     When the origination of the path NC data is finished, the processor 102 computes the coordinates of a wire departure starting point P ei  of the i-th machining profile using the departure path data D ES  and the path data of the last block of the i-th machining profile stored in the RAM 103 (step 207). NC data for departure from the machining end point to the wire departure point P ei  are then created (step 208). 
     When the origination of the NC data for the i-th machining profile ends, i is incremented by the operation i+1→i (step 209), after which a check is performed to determine if an i-th machining profile exists (step 210). If an i-th machining profile does not exist, automatic programming processing ends. 
     On the other hand, if an i-th machining profile does exist, coordinates of the approach starting point (machining starting hole) P ai  of the i-th machining profile are computed using the approach path data D AP  and the path data of the first block of the i-th machining profile stored in the RAM 103 (step 211). 
     The processor 102 subsequently originates: 
     (i) an M code (M□□) for wire severance; 
     (ii) NC data for positioning the wire electrode relative to the workpiece from a departure point P e (i- 1) of an (i-1)th machining profile to the machining starting hole P ai  of the i-th machining profile in a rapid-traverse mode; and 
     (iii) a code (MOO) for automatic connection of the wire electrode (step 212). Thereafter, processing from step 205 onward is repeated to originate NC data for the i-th machining profile. 
     It should be noted that the reason why the approach path and departure path of each machining profile can be decided in accordance with exactly the same reference as set forth above is that the approach path, machining conditions and departure path in wire-cut electric discharge machining are decided in dependence upon, e.g., the degree of machining precision, and are not influenced by the machining profile. 
     In accordance with the present invention as described above, approach path, machining conditions and departure path are registered in advance. In the origination of NC data for wire-cut electric discharge machining, the arrangement is such that only machining profiles are defined, it being unnecessary to enter the abovementioned approach path, machining conditions and departure path. As a result, the data input operation is simplified. In addition, the operator can give undivided attention solely to the definition of machining profile. This makes it possible to reduce operation errors in originating NC data.